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full screen It is the landowner who has the right to the meteorite, according to the Court of Appeal. Archive image. Photo: National Museum of Natural History
The Svea Court of Appeal changes the district court’s judgment and decides that it is Refvelsta estates that has the right to the meteorite that was found outside Enköping in November 2020.
The Uppsala District Court decided that the discoverers Anders Zetterqvist and Andreas Forsberg had the best rights to the meteorite. The Svea Court of Appeal now instead rules in favor of Count Johan Benzelstierna von Engeström, and states that it is the Refvelsta estate that has the right to the meteorite.
The case is unique in Swedish legal history and the legislation did not provide any clear guidance in advance. You may not take stones from other people’s land, according to the criminal code, but for ancient finds there is special legislation. Meteorites are not mentioned at all.
The stone went to the men because the district court considered it to be an object that accidentally ended up on Benzelstierna von Engeström’s land, and thus personal property. Benzelstierna von Engeström, on the other hand, considers the stone to be real property and is now getting the right in the Court of Appeal.